DeSantis Blasts Cannabis Legalization Amendment, Says People Will Be Able To Bring '20 Joints To An Elementary School'

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said at a press conference Wednesday that if the proposed constitutional amendment to legalize cannabis is approved in the November 2024 election, marijuana would reek all across the state and people will "be able to bring what, 20 joints to an elementary school."

DeSantis laid into the legalization initiative, known as Amendment 3 that seeks to legalize recreational cannabis for adults 21 and over. He argued that marijuana would be pervasive throughout Florida due to the way the ballot language is written, reported the Florida Phoenix.

"How the [Florida Supreme] Court let that language on the ballot, I will never ever understand," he said. The Florida Supreme Court approved the constitutional amendment on April 1.

"It does not do justice. I mean, the amendment language says that there can be no penalties for use or possession — civil, criminal, anything. I think it's going to be very difficult for businesses to operate without that infringing on them. I think you're going to see people — you'll be able to bring what, 20 joints to an elementary school. Is that really going to be good for the state of Florida? I don't think so."

DeSantis went on. "Even if you have no interest in marijuana, marijuana will have an interest in you."

Legalization Advocates Respond

Morgan Hill, spokesperson for Safe & Smart Florida, the group supporting Amendment 3, said the amendment is carefully written.

"The governor is remarkably wrong. Not only is Amendment 3 specifically for adults 21+, schools across the state and nation have drug-free policies. Regulated marijuana dispensaries have a strong history of prohibiting underage sales," she said in an email to outlet. "Additionally, we have great confidence in the state Legislature and know they will enact appropriate regulations to prevent consumption in other public spaces, in the way that they have successfully prevented alcohol from being consumed in schools and elsewhere."

The DeSantis team has said that defeating marijuana legalization and access to abortion are among the top priorities of the newly-formed Florida Freedom Fund, a Republican political action committee announced this week.

A recent Fox News poll showed that 69% of Floridians support the abortion-access initiative and 66% favor legalizing adult-use cannabis.

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Photo: Benzinga edit with images by Wikimedia Commons and Kindel Media on Pexels